Head rest



May 22, 1962 z. M. STEAD 3,035,279

HEAD REST Filed March 27, 1961 INVEN TOR. ZELMA M 575/10.

E53 W W A T TORNE 2.

United States Patent 3,035,279 HEAD REST Zelma M. Stead, Phoenix, Ariz. (314-2 E. Hazel St., Inglewood, Calif.) Filed Mar. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 98,395 2 Claims. (Cl. -337) The present invention relates to a head rest for use when the hair of the head is being set or conditioned by means of curlers or rollers around which portions of the hair are wound.

When the hair is being set, as at night before retiring, it becomes difiicult to rest the head without disturbing the setting and to find comfort owing to contact of the curlers or rollers with the scalp when the head is supported by a pillow.

In accordance with the present invention a head support is provided including a cushion or pillow in conjunction with a plurality of flexible spaced apart fingers whereby the head may be rested without the annoyance of the rollers or curlers being pressed into contact with the scalp and without distortion of the hair being set.

An object of the invention is to provide a convenient and practical arrangement of simple construction for supporting the head in comfort during the setting of the hair by the use of rollers or curlers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cushion to be held in position by the weight of a reclining body and having head supporting members extending from the cushion for contact with the head intermediate rollers or curlers during the setting of the hair.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a body reclining upon a cushion provided with flexible members or fingers in contact with the scalp of the head and intermediate rollers or curlers;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the head rest which consists of a cushion and fingers extending therefrom; FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 33 in FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the head rest showing a modified form in which the fingers are hingedly connected to the cushion to be folded over when not in use.

As shown in the drawing, the present invention includes a cushion or pillow composed of any suitable material such as sponge or foam rubber or the like. Embedded in the cushion is a bifurcated tension member 11 including an upper plate 12 and a lower plate 13 connected by an elbow 14. Between the plate members, adjacent the free ends thereof, are a pair of helical springs 15 which tensionally hold the plates apart under normal conditions and to permit relative movement of the free ends of the plates about the elbow when weight is applied to compress the cushion 10.

Integral with plate 12 is a support member 17 which extends from the cushion 10. The support member 17, which may be termed a hand, is provided with a plurality of spaced apart fingers 18 which serve to support the head. The member 11 may be of metal such as spring steel to provide fingers sufiiciently flexible to conform to the contour of the head when in contact therewith but fixed against relative lateral movement. In order to provide for comfortable contact with the head the support member 17 and fingers 18 may be coated with 3,035,279 Patented May 22, 1962 a layer 19 of a flexible material such, for example, as polyester or polyvinyl.

When the head rest is put to use the shoulders of the user, as shown in FIG. 1, rest upon the cushion 10 and the weight of the body holds the cushion and fingers in position to receive the head. The fingers being spaced apart are disposed in contact with the scalp 20 of the user and preferably between the rollers or curlers 20a. The head is thus supported without interference with the mechanical means used to set the hair. 7

The present device, being portable, finds use in the home and if desired, the fingers may be arranged to fold over adjacent the cushion for convenient handling. As shown in FIG. 4 the fingers 18 are attached to plate 12 by means of hinge 21 whereby the fingers may be folded over into contact with the cushion. When the fingers are in extended position a stop member 22 limits the degree of movement of the fingers to retain them in place to serve as a head rest.

Although the tension member composed of plates 12 and 13, when embedded in the cushion will serve to hold the fingers due to the weight of the body, the helical springs 15 give added tension and hold the plates in spaced relation giving rigidity to the extended support member or hand 17 from which the fingers extend.

As will be evident the present device provides a head rest so constructed and arranged as to include a cushion and projecting fingers whereby the reclining body may be rested on the cushion whereupon the weight of the body serves to hold the head rest in position to support the head.

As described above, the fingers are arranged in spaced relation to contact the scalp between the rollers or curlers.

It will be evident, however, that when desirable, the

fingers may be slid under the rollers or curlers for contact with the scalp. It has also been found practical to position one or more of the fingers beneath the rollers or curlers and the remaining fingers in contact with the scalp intermediate the rollers or curlers.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein it is to be understood that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A head support comprising a cushion to be held in position by the weight of the body, a pair of plate members embedded in said cushion, an elbow connecting said plate members, tension members intermediate said plate members, a plurality of flexible fingers integral with one of said plate members and extending from said cushion.

2. A head support comprising a cushion to be held in position by the weight of the body, a pair of plate members embedded in said cushion, an elbow connecting said plate members, helical springs intermediate said plate members, a plurality of flexible fingers integral with one of said plate members and extending from said cushion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 639,076 May Dec. 12, 1899 977,950 Harrison Dec. 6, 1910 1,828,585 Appling Oct. 20, 1931 2,056,479 Newman Oct. 6, 1936 2,703,890 Rinaldy Mar. 15, 1955 

